JP2014188049A - Article circulation-conveyor apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article circulation-conveyor apparatus capable of causing a magnet or magnetic body, arranged on an underside of a track surface for being magnetically linked to a wagon with an article placed thereon, to follow a shape of the track surface that undulates up and down.SOLUTION: An article circulation-conveyor apparatus includes: a circulating track formed with a track surface on which a wagon with an article placed thereon runs; an endless chain running below the track surface along the circulating track; an arm attached to the chain and a tip end thereof is vertically moveable; a magnetically linking part arranged at the tip end of the arm and having a magnet or magnetic body, for magnetically linking the wagon and the tip end of the arm by a magnetic force acting between the wagon and the magnet or magnetic body arranged below the wagon with the track surface interposed therebetween; and a biasing member for biasing the arm so that the tip end thereof moves toward the upper side and pressing the magnetically linking part against an underside of the track surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to an article circulation transport device.

  In recent years, automation is progressing in various fields, and various conveying devices are used for conveying articles. For example, in restaurants, food and beverages are provided using devices that circulate and transport foods and beverages (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3364712

  When conveying an article, it may be desired to convey the article on a conveyance path where the road surface undulates up and down. For example, when circulating food and drink at a restaurant, the food and drink can be conveyed while entertaining the eating and drinking if the road surface for transporting the food is undulating. However, for example, in the case of the transport device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the permanent magnet on the lower side of the transport path is attracted by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet on the pedestal on the upper side of the transport path and slides on the lower surface of the transport path. Therefore, if the permanent magnet on the lower side of the transport path is separated from the lower surface of the transport path for some reason, the permanent magnet on the lower side of the transport path is moved to the permanent magnet side of the base on the upper side of the transport path. Difficult to pull in again. In particular, when the road surface is greatly waved up and down, the permanent magnet on the lower side of the transport path is easily separated from the lower surface of the transport path. Therefore, for example, it has been difficult to wave the road surface up and down greatly for the purpose of entertaining the restaurant.

  Therefore, the present application provides an article circulating and conveying apparatus capable of following a magnet or a magnetic body disposed below the road surface in accordance with the shape of the wavy road surface for the purpose of magnetically connecting to a carriage on which the article is placed. It is an issue to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a magnetic coupling portion that couples the carriage and the tip of the arm with a magnetic force acting between the carriage and the magnet or magnetic body arranged on the lower side of the carriage, It was decided to urge the arm so that it was pressed against the back of the road surface.

  Specifically, it is an article circulation transport device, a circulation traveling path that forms a road surface on which a cart carrying articles travels, an endless chain that travels below the road surface along the circulation traveling path, The magnet or magnetic body, which is attached to the chain, has an arm whose tip is movable up and down, and a magnet or a magnetic body positioned at the tip of the arm, and is arranged on the lower side of the carriage with the road surface in between. A magnetic coupling portion that couples the carriage and the tip of the arm with a magnetic force acting between a body and the carriage, and urges the arm so that the tip of the arm moves upward, and the magnetic coupling portion And an urging member that presses against the back surface of the road surface.

If it is the said goods circulation conveyance apparatus, the magnetic connection part provided in the front-end | tip of an arm is urged | biased by the urging | biasing member. The arm is attached to an endless chain that travels below the road surface along the circulation travel path. Accordingly, the magnetic coupling portion provided at the tip of the arm is pressed against the back surface of the road surface by the force of the biasing member acting on the arm supported by the chain, and is pulled along the path of the traveling chain. . For this reason, the magnetic coupling part can follow the shape of the road surface where the magnet or the magnetic body is waved up and down while maintaining the state where the magnetic connection part is pressed against the back surface of the road surface.

  Moreover, the said magnetic connection part may have a wheel contact | abutted on the back surface of the said road surface. If such a wheel is provided, even if the magnetic coupling portion is pressed against the back surface of the road surface by the urging member, the frictional force between the magnetic coupling portion and the back surface of the road surface is reduced.

  The chain may be a roller chain arranged so that a shaft of a pin connecting the links is up and down, and the arm may be attached to the link of the chain. If the arm is attached to the chain in this way, the bending of the chain is suppressed, so that the magnetic coupling portion is easily pressed against the back surface of the road surface.

  Further, the circulating traveling path may form the road surface that undulates up and down. If the road surface is formed to wave up and down, the article moves not only in the front-rear and right-and-left directions but also in the up-and-down direction, so that various movements of the article can be realized. Therefore, when the article is a food or drink, for example, it is possible to entertain a food and drink customer in the vicinity of the circulation traveling path.

  Further, the back surface of the road surface is undulated along the road surface that undulates up and down, and the magnetic coupling portion is arranged at the tip of the arm so that the magnet or the magnetic body can rotate about two axes with respect to the arm. It may have a universal joint to be attached and three wheels that are in contact with the back surface of the road surface and support the magnet or magnetic body at three points on the back surface of the road surface. Here, when it is possible to rotate about two axes, when the traveling direction of the magnetic coupling portion is the front, the axis extends in the front-rear direction (roll) and the axis extends in the left-right direction (pitch). ) Can be rotated freely. Even if the road surface is formed so as to wave up and down, if the magnetic coupling part can be rotated about two axes with respect to the arm, the magnetic coupling part is allowed to follow along the back surface of the waved road surface. Can do.

  Further, the three wheels may be wheels whose steering angles can be freely changed. If the three wheels provided in the magnetic coupling part are formed in this way, the movement of the magnetic coupling part pressed against the back surface of the road surface by the urging member can be made smooth.

  If it is the above-mentioned article circulation transport device, it is possible to follow the shape of the road surface wavy up and down with the magnet or magnetic body arranged below the road surface for the purpose of magnetically connecting to the carriage on which the article is placed. Become.

It is an example of the figure which showed the article circulation conveyance device concerning the embodiment of this invention from the slant. It is an example of the figure which showed the internal structure of the food-drink circulating conveyance apparatus from the top. It is an example of the figure which showed the internal structure of the food-drink circulating conveyance apparatus from the side. It is an example of the figure which showed the support state of the chain. It is an example of the figure which showed the arm from the side. It is an example of the figure which showed the arm from the diagonal. It is an example of the figure which showed the internal structure of the food-drink circulating conveyance apparatus from the side, and is an example of the figure shown from the direction different from FIG. 3A. It is an example of the figure which showed the underside of the cart applicable to a food and drink circulation conveyance device from the slant. It is an example of the figure which showed the change of the steering angle of the wheel at the time of the course change of a trolley | bogie being performed in the corner of a circulating travel path. It is an example of the figure which showed the other trolley | bogie applicable to a food-drink circulating conveyance apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Embodiment shown below is one aspect | mode of this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is an example of an oblique view of an article circulation transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in this embodiment, since the case where it uses for conveyance of food and drink is demonstrated to an example, below, the goods circulation conveyance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment will be called food and drink circulation conveyance apparatus. However, the article circulation conveyance device disclosed in the present application is not limited to the one that circulates and conveys food and drink, and can be used for other various article conveyance.

  The food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1 is a device that circulates and conveys food and drink, and includes a circulating travel path 10 that forms a road surface 11 on which a large number of carts 50 on which food and drink dishes are placed travel. The circulating travel path 10 forms a road surface 11 using a nonmagnetic plate material such as wood or resin. The circulating travel path 10 forms the road surface 11 without any structural material or the like that obstructs the path of the cart 50 in the portion of the road surface 11 through which the cart 50 passes. The same applies to the back surface side of the road surface 11.

  The food circulation transport apparatus 1 is suitable for a restaurant that provides various foods such as sushi, beverages, soba and udon noodles, fried chicken and tempura. For example, the food circulation transport device 1 may be configured to form the circulation traveling path 10 so as to pass through the kitchen area and the restaurant area of the sushi restaurant, and is provided inside the circulation traveling path 10. The food and drink may be circulated and transported between the kitchen area and the eating and drinking area provided outside the circulation travel path 10, or the food and drink Other various articles may be circulated and conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the circulating travel path 10 forms a road surface 11 that undulates up and down. Therefore, the carriage 50 traveling on the road surface 11 travels while moving up and down along the undulating road surface 11. In the present embodiment, the road surface 11 forms a flat portion 12, an upward inclined portion 13, and a downward inclined portion 14. Therefore, the eating and drinking person sitting near the circulation travel path 10 enjoys watching the state where the cart 50 on which the food and drink plate is placed rises up the inclined portion 13 and goes down the down inclined portion 14. You can eat and drink by taking a plate of food and drink. In addition, you may make it entertain a food-drinker further by attaching | subjecting the design of forests etc. to the road surface 11, or providing the tunnel which makes a mountain road image.

  In addition, the circulating travel path 10 is not limited to the form which forms the flat part 12, the upward inclination part 13, and the downward inclination part 14 as shown in FIG. The circulating traveling path 10 may form, for example, a road surface 11 that undulates more finely than shown in FIG. 1, or may form a road surface 11 that is inclined laterally with respect to the traveling direction.

FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the food and beverage circulation transport device 1 from above. The food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1 includes an endless chain 20 that travels below the road surface 11 along the circulation travel path 10. In addition, arms 30 for pulling the carriage 50 and magnetic coupling portions 40 are distributed and arranged on the chain 20 at appropriate intervals. The chain 20 travels with the power transmitted from the drive unit 21 via the drive sprocket 22 (K) disposed in one of the four sprockets 22 provided at each of the four corners provided in the circulation travel path 10. To do. Since the four corners provided in the circulation travel path 10 are positions where the course of the circulation travel path 10 changes by 90 degrees, the chain 20 meshes with the sprocket 22 (K) so as to be wound around. Therefore, the length of the contact portion between the sprocket 22 (K) and the chain 20 is sufficiently secured, and power is easily transmitted from the sprocket 22 (K) to the chain 20. Also, sprocket 22 (
The length of the contact portion between K) and the chain 20 is sufficiently secured, so that the wear of the chain 20 is also suppressed.

  In addition, the food / drink circulation conveying device 1 is not limited to the one provided with one set of sprockets 22 (K) and the drive unit 21 for transmitting power to the chain 20, and a plurality of sets may be provided. If a plurality of sets of sprockets 22 (K) and driving units 21 are provided, the power is distributed and applied to the chain 20, so that even if the route of the circulating travel path 10 is long, the load is localized at a specific location of the chain 20. There is no such thing. Therefore, the wear of the chain 20 can be reduced.

  In addition, the food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1 is not limited to the one in which the circulation travel path 10 forms four corners whose course is changed by 90 degrees as shown in FIG. In the food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1, for example, the circulation traveling path 10 forms a path including a corner where the course changes at an angle smaller than 90 degrees and a corner where the course changes at an angle larger than 90 degrees. May be. For example, when the circulation traveling path 10 forms part of a corner where the path changes by 180 degrees, the food and beverage circulation conveying apparatus 1 transmits the power transmitted from the drive unit 21 to the chain 20 (K). Is placed at the corner where the path changes 180 degrees, the length of the contact portion between the sprocket 22 (K) and the chain 20 is secured to the maximum, and the power is easily transmitted from the sprocket 22 (K) to the chain 20.

  FIG. 3A is an example of a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the food and beverage circulation transfer apparatus 1 from the side. FIG. 3B is an example of a diagram illustrating a support state of the chain 20. The arm 30 is attached to the link of the chain 20. The chain 20 is a roller chain that is arranged so that the axis of the pin that connects the links is up and down. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the chain 20 is supported by a chain guide 20 </ b> G that supports the chain 20. For example, the chain guide 20G can be arranged between corners that do not mesh with the sprocket 22. Since the chain 20 is supported by the chain guide 20G, the arm 30 can be supported by the weight with little weight even at an intermediate point between the corners that do not mesh with the sprocket 22.

  In addition, the food / drink circulation conveyance apparatus 1 is not limited to the aspect which supports the chain 20 with the chain guide 20G. For example, the food and beverage circulation transfer device 1 may omit the chain guide 20G that supports the chain 20. In addition, the food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1 may appropriately change the vertical thickness of the chain 20 so that the chain 20 is difficult to bend downward due to its own weight. If the thickness of the chain 20 in the vertical direction is large, even if the distance between the sprockets is wide and the chain guide 20G is omitted, the downward bending of the chain 20 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a diagram showing the arm 30 from the side. The arm 30 includes two links 31U and 31B parallel to each other, a fixing portion 32 for rotatably fixing one end side of each link 31U and 31B to the chain 20, and the other end side of each link 31U and 31B magnetically. The movable part 33 for connecting with the connection part 40 is provided. The magnetic coupling portion 40 is coupled to the movable portion 33 via a flexible joint 34 (which is an example of a “universal joint” in the present application) that is rotatable about two axes. Further, the arm 30 is an example of a spring (an “urging member” in the present application) that biases the arm 30 so that the tip of the arm 30 on the side where the movable portion 33 is provided moves upward. ) 35 is attached.

In the arm 30, one end of the link 31U is rotatably connected to the fixed portion 32 by the joint 36UK, and the other end of the link 31U is rotatably connected to the movable portion 33 by the joint 36UJ. Further, the arm 30 has one end of the link 31B connected to the fixed portion 32 by a joint 36BK so as to be rotatable, and the other end of the link 31B is connected to the movable portion 33 by a joint 36BJ. The arm 30 sets the distance between the joint 36UK and the joint 36BK equal to the distance between the joint 36UJ and the joint 36BJ. Further, the arm 30 sets the distance between the joint 36UK and the joint 36UJ equal to the distance between the joint 36BK and the joint 36BJ. Accordingly, the arm 30 realizes a so-called parallel link mechanism, and can move the movable portion 33 up and down while keeping the posture of the movable portion 33 constant.

  FIG. 5 is an example of an oblique view of the arm 30. The magnetic coupling portion 40 coupled to the movable portion 33 on the distal end side of the arm 30 via the flexible joint 34 has a magnet 42 positioned at the distal end of the arm 30, and the road surface 11 is disposed below the carriage 50. It is a member that connects the carriage 50 and the tip of the arm 30 with a magnetic force acting between the magnet 42 and the carriage 50 that are sandwiched. The magnet 42 is a permanent magnet, but may be an electromagnet as long as power can be supplied while the chain 30 is traveling. In addition, when the cart 50 has a magnet, the magnetic coupling part 40 can also change the magnet 42 into a magnetic body.

  The magnetic coupling part 40 has three wheels 41F, 41R, 41R that come into contact with the back surface of the road surface 11 formed by the circulating travel path 10 and supports the magnet 42 on the back surface of the road surface 11 at three points. The three wheels 41F, 41R, 41R are all wheels whose steering angles can be freely changed. As the wheels 41F, 41R, 41R, for example, generally-used universal casters can be applied, but other various rotating members can also be applied. Further, the magnetic coupling part 40 is not limited to the one provided with the wheels 41F, 41R, 41R, and for example, two or less or four or more wheels may be provided, and the friction coefficient is low. The wheel may be omitted so that the member slides on the back surface of the road surface 11.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the food and beverage circulation transfer apparatus 1 from the side, and is an example of a diagram illustrating the direction different from FIG. 3A. The circulating travel path 10 forms a road surface 11 that undulates up and down. Therefore, the back surface of the road surface 11 is undulating along the road surface 11 undulating up and down. Further, the magnetic coupling portion 40 is coupled to the movable portion 33 of the arm 30 via the flexible joint 34. Further, the magnetic coupling portion 40 is pressed against the back surface of the road surface 11 by a spring 35 that biases the arm 30 so that the tip of the arm 30 moves upward. Therefore, the magnetic coupling portion 40 connected to the chain 20 via the arm 30 and supported at three points by the wheels 41F, 41R, 41R receives the force of the spring 35 acting on the arm 30 supported by the chain 20. Then, it is pressed against the back surface of the road surface 11 and pulled along the course of the traveling chain 20. For this reason, it becomes possible for the magnetic coupling part 40 to follow the shape of the road surface 11 in which the magnet or the magnetic body is waved up and down while maintaining the state pressed against the back surface of the road surface 11. Further, when the chain 20 travels, the magnetic coupling portion 40 is inclined forward or backward according to the shape of the back surface of the undulating road surface 11.

By the way, the food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1 causes the chain 20 to travel so that the wheel 41F is on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the wheels 41R and 41R. This is because, by arranging the wheel 41F on the front side in the traveling direction with respect to the wheels 41R and 41R arranged in the vicinity of the flexible joint 34, a change in the shape of the back surface of the undulating road surface 11 can be quickly captured and magnetically coupled. The posture of the portion 40 is caused to promptly follow the change in the shape of the back surface of the road surface 11. Moreover, the food-and-drink circulating conveyance apparatus 1 has arrange | positioned the magnet 42 between wheel 41R, 41R. Therefore, even if the posture of the magnetic coupling portion 40 follows the change in the shape of the back surface of the road surface 11 and tilts forward or backward, the clearance between the magnet 42 and the back surface of the road surface 11 is kept substantially constant, The influence on the magnetic force acting between the magnet 42 and the carriage 50 is suppressed. Although the food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1 forms the undulating road surface 11, the posture of the magnetic coupling part 40 can quickly follow the shape change of the road surface 11, and the clearance between the magnet 42 and the back surface of the road surface 11. Therefore, when the carriage 50 passes through the flat portion 12, the ascending slope portion 13, and the descending slope portion 14, stable running can be realized without causing the carriage 50 to move unnaturally.

  FIG. 7 is an example of an oblique view of the lower side of the carriage 50 that can be applied to the food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1. The cart 50 includes, for example, a magnet 52 and three wheels 51F, 51R, 51R as shown in FIG. The magnet 52 causes a magnetic force to act on the magnet 42 disposed on the lower side of the carriage 50 with the road surface 11 interposed therebetween, and connects the carriage 50 and the tip of the arm 30 with a magnetic attraction force. Therefore, if the upper polarity of the magnet 42 is N pole, the lower polarity of the magnet 52 is S pole, and if the upper polarity of the magnet 42 is S pole, the lower polarity of the magnet 52 is It is attached to the carriage 50 so as to have the N pole. The magnet 52 is fixed at a position eccentric to the front side of the center of the carriage 50, and stabilizes the orientation of the carriage 50 when attracted to the magnet 42 that moves on the lower side of the road surface 11. In addition, the cart applicable to the food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1 is not limited to the cart 50 as shown in FIG. 7, and is coupled to the magnet 42 of the magnetic coupling unit 40 by the magnetic attraction force, Any cart can be applied as long as it can transport the article following the traveling.

  Of the three wheels 51F, 51R, 51R, the wheel 51F located on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage 50 is a wheel whose steering angle can be freely changed, whereas it is located on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 50. The wheels 51R and 51R are wheels whose steering angles cannot be changed. This is because the magnetic connecting part 40 is connected to the arm 30 via the flexible joint 34, so that if any of the wheels 41F, 41R, 41R cannot change the rudder angle, the magnetic connecting part 40 moves smoothly. While there is a possibility of interference, the carriage 50 is only pulled by the action of the magnetic force acting between the magnet 52 and the magnet 42, so that the rudder angle of the wheel 51 </ b> F serving as the front wheel of the carriage 50 can be changed. This is because the wheels 51R and 51R do not hinder the smooth movement of the carriage 50.

  By the way, the cart 50 arrange | positions the magnet 52 between the three wheels 51F, 51R, 51R. This is because consideration is given to preventing the carriage 50 from being tilted by the magnetic attractive force acting between the magnet 52 and the magnet 42 and preventing the magnet 52 from contacting the road surface 11. Therefore, the force pulling the carriage 50 acts on the position of the magnet 52 surrounded by the wheels 51F, 51R, 51R, that is, on the front side of the center of the carriage 50. Therefore, when the course of the carriage 50 is changed at the corner of the circulation travel path 10, the steering angle of the wheel 51F is changed as follows.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a diagram showing a change in the steering angle of the wheels 51 </ b> F when the course of the carriage 50 is changed at the corner of the circulation travel path 10. When the carriage 50 reaches the vicinity of the corner of the circulation travel path 10, the magnet 42 below the road surface 11 starts to move laterally with respect to the path of the carriage 50 (see FIG. 8A). The element that can change the rudder angle of the wheel 51F is nothing but a change in the relative movement direction between the road surface 11 in contact with the wheel 51F and the wheel 51F. The rudder angle of the wheel 51F is changed with the shaft 53 positioned at the front side of the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with each other in the traveling direction of the carriage 50 as a rotation center. Accordingly, the wheel 51F that has been automatically adjusted to a rudder angle parallel to the course of the cart 50 that travels straight travels the track in the lateral direction so that the cart 50 that travels straight is attracted to the magnet 42 below the road surface 11. When the change is started, the rudder angle is changed so as to follow the amount of movement of the carriage 50 in the lateral direction (FIG. 8B).

By the way, the ratio of the amount of change in the steering angle of the wheel 51F with respect to the amount of movement of the carriage 50 in the lateral direction when the carriage 50 is attracted in the lateral direction by the magnet 42 is a portion where the wheels 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with each other. Greatly differs depending on the length between the shaft 53 and the shaft 53. For example, even if the carriage 50 is largely attracted in the lateral direction by the magnet 42, if the length between the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with the shaft 53 is extremely large, the carriage 50 The amount of change in the steering angle of the wheel 51F due to the movement in the lateral direction is smaller than when the length between the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with the shaft 53 is short. Further, for example, even if the cart 50 is pulled down in the lateral direction by the magnet 42, the cart can be used if the length between the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with the shaft 53 is extremely small. The amount of change in the steering angle of the wheel 51F accompanying the movement of 50 in the lateral direction is larger than when the length between the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with the shaft 53 is long.

  Thus, the ratio of the amount of change in the steering angle of the wheel 51F to the amount of movement of the carriage 50 in the lateral direction when the carriage 50 is attracted in the lateral direction by the magnet 42 is such that the wheels 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with each other. It differs greatly depending on the length between the portion and the shaft 53. Therefore, in order to realize the smooth travel of the carriage 50 in the corner portion of the circulation travel path 10, the steering angle and the turning of the wheel 51F in the corner portion of the circulation travel path 10 are prevented in order to prevent the skids of the wheel 51F in the corner portion. It is important to suppress the discrepancy with the turning radius of the carriage 50 to be performed. That is, in the design of the carriage 50, the amount of movement of the carriage 50 in the lateral direction when the carriage 50 is pulled in the lateral direction by the magnet 42 and the wheel 51F so that the steering angle of the wheel 51F is appropriately changed. It is important to examine the relationship between the length of the contact portion between the road surface 11 and the shaft 53.

  However, in the food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the road surface 11 is waved up and down, and the height of the road surface 11 at each of the four corner portions of the circulation traveling path 10 is not uniform. Therefore, the inclination angle of the arm 30 when the carriage 50 approaches the corner portion is not uniquely determined. Therefore, for example, when the arm 30 stands almost vertically because it reaches a corner portion with a high height, the tip of the arm 30 does not swing greatly in the lateral direction with respect to the course even if the chain 20 starts to bend. When the arm 30 is almost lying down because it reaches the corner portion having a low height, when the chain 20 starts to bend, the tip of the arm 30 swings greatly in the lateral direction with respect to the course. Therefore, in the design of the carriage 50, the amount of movement of the carriage 50 in the lateral direction when the carriage 50 is attracted in the lateral direction by the magnet 42 and the wheels 51F so that the steering angle of the wheels 51F can be appropriately changed. It is important to examine the relationship between the length of the contact portion between the road surface 11 and the shaft 53 in consideration of the height difference of the corner portion.

  By the way, the influence on the traveling performance of the carriage 50 due to the nonconformity of the steering angle of the wheel 51F has an effect on the traveling performance when the steering angle of the wheel 51F is too small than when the steering angle of the wheel 51F is too large. Is estimated to be small. The reason is that when the steering angle of the wheel 51F is too large, the course of the carriage 50 that tries to turn with a small turning radius by the action of the wheel 51F is corrected so that the magnet 42 below the road surface 11 faces the outside of the turning radius. Therefore, there is an increased possibility that the course of the carriage 50 may be swung from side to side. On the other hand, when the steering angle of the wheel 51F is too small, the course of the carriage 50 that is going to turn with a large turning radius by the action of the wheel 51F. Then, the lower magnet 42 of the road surface 11 is corrected so as to go further toward the inside of the turning radius, and the magnet 42 simply compensates for the shortage of the turning amount of the carriage 50 by the wheels 51F. This is because there is a low possibility that the swaying will be fine.

Therefore, in the design of the carriage 50, when it is difficult to minimize the influence on the traveling performance of the carriage 50 due to the difference in the height of the corner portion, at least the steering angle of the wheels 51F should be considered to be relatively small. Therefore, it is easy to realize the stable traveling of the carriage 50. Note that, as a measure for reducing the steering angle of the wheel 51F relatively, the length between the portion where the wheel 51F and the road surface 11 are in contact with the shaft 53 is not optimized. As a measure for relatively reducing the steering angle of the wheel 51F, for example, by arranging the wheel 51F in the vicinity of the magnet 52, the magnetic material constituting a part of the wheel 51F receives the magnetism of the magnet 52, and the steering is performed. It is conceivable to apply some magnetic force to the wheel 51F that draws the wheel 51F whose angle can be changed to the magnet 52 side. With such a measure, a force that restricts the change in the steering angle of the wheel 51F to some extent acts on the wheel 51F, and the steering angle of the wheel 51F can be made relatively small.

  In addition, the trolley | bogie 50 applicable to the food / beverage circulation conveyance apparatus 1 is not limited to the form shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an example of a diagram showing another cart that can be applied to the food and beverage circulating and conveying apparatus 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the carriage 50 may include two wheels 51 </ b> F and 51 </ b> F corresponding to the front wheels and one wheel 51 </ b> R corresponding to the rear wheels in addition to the magnet 52. The two wheels 51F and 51F of the carriage 50 shown in FIG. 9 are so-called free casters that can change the rudder angle, and the wheels 51R are casters that cannot change the rudder angle. The cart 50 shown in FIG. 9 is not directly loaded and transported with food and drink dishes, but is covered with a cover with decorations such as trains and animals, and the food and drink dishes are placed on the cover and conveyed. Therefore, it is smaller than the carriage 50 shown in FIG. 7 and the like, and each of the wheels 51F and 51R has a large diameter. The food and beverage circulation conveyance device 1 can also travel on the circulation travel path 10 for such a carriage 50.

1 ·· Food and drink circulation transport device; 10 ·· Circuit traveling road; 11 ·· Road surface; 12 ·· Flat portion; 13 ·· Up slope portion; 14 ·· Down slope portion; Guide 21; Drive part 22 (K) Sprocket 30 Arm 31U, 31B Link 32 Fixed part 33 Movable part 34 Flexible joint 35 Spring 36, 36 UJ, 36 BK, 36 BJ, joints; 40, magnetic coupling part; 41 F, 41 R, wheels; 42, magnets; 50, trucks; 51 F, 51 R, wheels; 52, magnets; ·axis

Claims (6)

A circulating travel path that forms a road surface on which a cart carrying articles travels;
An endless chain that travels below the road surface along the circulating travel path;
An arm attached to the chain, the tip of which is movable up and down;
A magnet or a magnetic body located at a tip of the arm, and the carriage and the magnetic force acting between the carriage or the magnet or the magnetic body arranged on the lower side of the carriage with the road surface interposed therebetween; A magnetic connecting part for connecting the tip of the arm;
A biasing member that biases the arm so that a tip of the arm moves upward, and presses the magnetic coupling portion against a back surface of the road surface,
Article circulation conveying device. The magnetic coupling portion has a wheel that contacts the back surface of the road surface.
The article circulation conveying apparatus according to claim 1. The chain is a roller chain that is arranged so that the axis of a pin connecting the links is up and down,
The arm is attached to a link of the chain;
The article circulation transport device according to claim 1 or 2. The circulating traveling path forms the road surface undulating up and down,
The article circulation conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The back surface of the road surface is undulating along the road surface undulating up and down,
The magnetic coupling portion is in contact with a universal joint that attaches the magnet or the magnetic body to the tip of the arm so as to be rotatable about two axes with respect to the arm, and a back surface of the road surface. With three wheels supporting three points on the back of the
The article circulation transport device according to claim 4. The three wheels are wheels whose rudder angles can be freely changed.
The article circulation conveying apparatus according to claim 5.

Images